What Does This Sound Like To You?

[Anonymous]

We've seen a therapist, a psychologist and the regular ped. I have been given a diagnosis and I have been offered a game plan on how to attack the issues we are experiencing. I do not know any other familys that are experiencing what we are with our son and I would love to hear what other parents think or have to say. Based on what I am describing what would you say the issues at hand are and the diagnosis is.

My son is almost four.
He has never slept well. As an infant he rarely slept.
He has skin issues. We have not found a source for his skin allergies.
He is very verbal and has an excellent vocabulary. He loves to talk and express himself.
He roams. He does not ever settle into one activity. If we try to role play or be imaginative something catches his eye and he walks away.
He runs. He does not stop to think about things he sees and will just take off running, not listening to our commands to stop.
He is easily distracted.
He becomes very aggressive and angry when he is overtired. Hitting, slapping, kicking, screaming.
He has a difficult time transitioning between activities.
He refuses to join in group activities at school. Rather than sit at story time he walks around. He will not sit to color if that is the group activity, he will go look out the window.
He is fiercely attached to one parent and will climb them like a monkey. He breaks down in hysterics if that parent cannot be with him.
He understands and he takes direction but he is so distractible he does not ever actually do what is asked of him.

Just based on the items above (which just make him sound like a bad kid with bad parents) what diagnosis would you think my child was given?

[Anonymous]

Well except for the skin issues and taking off running, you just described DC almost perfectly! Though I should add DC did sleep as an infant but just not well. OP, he is not a bad kid. He has some issues and that means he is very uncomfortable in his body and environment. He was born that way and nothing you did and nothing he did caused it.

DC rec'd a diagnosis of ADHD/SPD. The sleep issues, the aggressiveness/anger when he's overtired, the difficulty transitioning, and the breaking down into hysterics are seem to point to a regulatory disorder. Sleep is a regulatory function, as is the ability to remain at least relatively calm even when a child becomes tired or doesn't get his own way all the time. At the age of four a neurotypical will get upset, but still remain relatively unshaken when he doesn't get his way.

The inability to settle down, running without listening, distraction, and walking around story time are ADHD type of behavior. For our DC fidget or sensory objects to hold during story time helped.

The refusal to join group activities is possibly a sensory problem. The visual input of a group of children is too overwhelming for some children with sensory issues.

We tried the Feingold diet for our child's ADHD symptoms and it helped a lot. We also did exercises in the book, "Overcoming ADHD." You can order these books online. We also saw Jake Greenspan at DIR Support in Bethesda for OT sessions. Over the course of time you'll probably see all these behaviors diminish as we did with our own DC. Good luck OP.

[Anonymous]

It is so difficult for me to take my son out to play groups, parks or even someplace like preschool. I literally have no control over him. He is a sweet boy. He wants to please us. He is not bad. I just cannot expect much of him in the way of listening or cooperation. At the park all the kids are climbing and playing. My child is covering himself in wood chips or looking for sticks. He will not play with or near the other children. I have to helicopter him because if he get too far away from me and bolts for something I cannot catch him.

At Little Gym he will not participate in any structured activities. He wants to roam around and do what he wants to do. I can give him explicit instructions not to do something and 20 seconds later he is doing. Today he poked his fingers through several packs of chicken breast at the store, which I had to then purchase. Right after I explained we could not touch it.

I feel like I am being judged. Like I cannot control my son. I am a bad parent who cannot get her kid to behave. I really just dont leave the house some days because I cant deal with him in a public setting without the help of my husband. It's too much as I have a younger child as well.

I have such good intentions when I wake up to start the day. By 10am I am drained and just do not want to leave the house.

I purchase education toys, blocks, trucks, arts/crafts with the hopes that he will enjoy something and focus on it. All that happens is we end up with more toys.

I love love love my little guy but it's so hard sometimes.

[Anonymous]

I would have him evaluated by the county or a dev ped. Research shows early intervention is key to growth and development in children who are experiencing dev issues. Do it before kinder to give him a head start and to understand what his issues are. This will help the transition into kinder because he will have supports in place. If you are in MOCO call child find (it's free!).

[Anonymous]

ADHD and SPD, but the skin issue is throwing me.

what was the dx they gave you?

[Anonymous]

Aspergers. My son was similar at this age. It really truly does get better.

[Anonymous]

I would also guess ADHD and SPD

[Anonymous]

Same here. Though probably guess more SPD. Read "the out of sync child". Also, the skin stuff sounds like an IGG food sensitivity

[Anonymous]

My DD was the same. SPD and ADHD. She just finished Kindergarten, is doing great. OT helps tremendously as well as cutting out artificial dyes and using fish oil supplements.

[Anonymous]

This is OP. You guys are great. I was given a diagnosis of ADHD(inattentive) with weak working memory and poor executive function. The psychologist we saw did not think there was a sensory processing issue going on but I don't understand how there isn't. We went to The Family Group. Is there another practice that may be better suited to help my son? I would love any referrals from experienced any moms and dads out there.

We are having his skin tested for allergies but the doctor we saw thought it would be related to his behavior and if we eliminated, let's say, dairy, perhaps the symptoms we experience would lessen.

I don't know anything about Asperger's. I will look into that. It was suggested I read "Is This Your Child", and "Managing the Difficult Child". The doctor told me to either stay away from "The Out of Sync Child" or to take it with a grain of salt. Why would he say that?

We are in MoCo. Is there someone in Moco that you would suggest for OT? And how do I contact the county, I will google it and try to find more info. I had no idea the county would evaluate him.

Thanks so much for the info. It makes me feel better to see other moms can determine what the issues at hand are based on ds's symptoms.

[Anonymous]

Believe me, a lot of people here are in/have been in your position and there probably isn't a better group to listen sympathetically and offer some direction. Your DS sounds a lot like two of my kids who have been diagnosed with ADHD and SPD. I have no idea why your pediatrician recommended you stay away from The Out Of Sync Child. There's a spectrum of behaviors/characteristc/intensities of SPD and while many of the examples in the Out Of Sync Child didn't really fit my child, I did recognize some of the behaviors and it was very useful in helping me understand what was going on with my kids. There's also a really good book called the Out Of Sync Child Has Fun with all kids of activities that all kids enjoy but that help you see why a sensory kid would especially like them. That's what the pediatrician should have told you rather than say take it with a grain of salt. Frankly, I'd consider getting a new pediatrician and if he didn't recommend you seek an OT evaluation, I'd definitely find a new one. For sure, I'd find a developmental pediatrician. I also second the recommendation to contact MoCo early intervention services. There's no cost and you'll likely find, as many of us have, these behaviors you're describing can be caused by a variety of reasons. When my kid gets fidgeting is it because of the ADHD (the subject matter isn't keeping his attention), the SPD (he's seeking proprioceptive input) or the hypotonia (fatigue from low muscle tone). If it's the hypotonia, it doesn't matter how interesting the subject matter is, he's going to be moving around. You really have to learn your kid and what works. I've learned a lot from reading but, for me, the best has been going to OT, watching how my child works (or doesn't), learning how the OT addresses it and why and then reinforcing at home what we learned in therapy.

You're not a bad parent. You've got some challenges but you're definitely not alone.

[Anonymous]

Yep, same exact dx for my DS. He is 7.
Aspbergers/ASD ruled out by Kennedy Krieger and two psychologists.

[Anonymous]

Do you mind me asking at what age your son started talking?

[Anonymous]

Here's what I would personally do.

I would go to nihadc.com and schedule a nutritional/allergy workup. They are in DC, but very close to MoCo. It should include an IGG allergy blood test. He could have food sensitivities that will not show up on a skin test or an IGE blood test. Alternatively, you could see Dr Layton in Towson, MD (allergyconnection.com). Either one will probably do some other testing as well.

I'd also go to its-dts.com and get an OT evaluation done. They are in Kensington, and we've been very pleased with the OT we've received for my daughter with SPD.

And unfortunately, I think you need a new pediatrician.

I have a DD who is 4.5 with SPD as her only diagnosis so far, but we were about to go to Kennedy Krieger and/or a psychiatrist when we decided to try the biomedical route first. I can relate so much to your posts!!!

[Anonymous]

DS' first words were at a year, so pretty normal there. His issues were/are articulation. But now he is also dealing with searching for the right words when he's speaking. He is in speech therapy.

His major delay was in his gross motor, still an issue. He is in OT for that.

Tutoring this summer for executive functioning, writing and math.

My advice is to not wait, stay on top of everything and your DS will be fine!!